10 Reasons Frozen Is Definitely NOT Disney's Best Animated Movie This Decade
7. Tangled Embraces Disney's History, Rather Than Mocking It
Not only does Frozen go out of its way to be 'progressive,' it goes out of its way to mock the long legacy of Disney Animated classics which have come before it. Towards the end of the first act, Anna meets the man of her dreams, like many a Disney Princess before her; the man she was so hopeful she'd meet, she was singing about the mere possibility just 15 minutes before. After a musical number about how great a couple they make, she asks her sister, the Queen, for her blessing to get married. Elsa's response is a condescending "You can't marry a man you just met." You can feel the makers of Frozen thumbing their nose at the convention of Disney classics like Cinderella, Snow White, and even more modern classics like Aladdin. The musical number "Love is an Open Door" obvious self-parody, and just in-case you didn't get it, Elsa hammers it home here. Frozen plays like a direct response to all those memes picking apart perceived problems with previous Disney princesses. Just google "Disney princess problems" or "Disney princess disorders" and see all the results you get. Bashing Disney animated classics has been in vogue for years - so much so that even Disney itself is now joining in. Tangled, on the other hand, owns the sense of magic and wonder and humour and romance of Disney's golden years. Its able to pull off comedy and imagination that doesn't have to be cynical and meta and snotty. It feels like one of those classic fairy tales we all grew up with, and it's not 'too cool' for 'outdated premises' like love at first sight. Frozen even goes so far as to make Hans the villain of the movie after he reveals himself to be a conniving wolf in sheep's clothing. 'Don't trust anyone' seems to be the message they're sending here. You're just as likely to fall for a villain like Hans, than a Prince Charming. "You can't marry a man you just met" may be practical life advice, but is that really the kind of cynical message we want to send our young children? That love is dangerous? Is it so wrong to enjoy the fantasy that true love CAN be found over a musical number?
